Prior to making his season debut this past weekend, Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy was asked about the chances of David Pastrnak reaching 50 goals after coming up just short a season ago.

“It’ll be tough, would have to be a goal a game assuming he gets in there really quick--probably more than a goal a game, that’s a tough ask,” said Cassidy. “I don’t think anybody’s done that since Gretzky in ’92 maybe, maybe Brett Hull one year. For me, I think that’s going to be a challenge.”

After being held scoreless in his season debut Jan. 30 against the Capitals, all Pastrnak has done has score five times in his last two games, including his first hat trick in Wednesday’s thrilling 4-3 comeback overtime win against the Flyers.

"I think everybody expected that. That's how he's been," said Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. "He can shoot, he can score, he finds those open areas where to shoot from and it seems like when he hits the net, it's in."

If my math is correct, Pastrnak is currently on pace to score 81 goals this season. It seems like it’s been a case of “challenge accepted” from Pastrnak.

“I told him my experience is sometimes what happens with guys when they miss that much time, the whole offseason, is you lose your timing a bit. Your hands and your timing are a little bit out of sync,” a smiling Cassidy said.

“Ha! He showed me.”

Pastrnak has seen exactly 62 minutes of ice time in his three games and boy has he made the most of that time.

In those 62 minutes Pastrnak has:

37 shot attempts
19 shots on goal
13 individual scoring chances for
8 high-danger scoring chances for
5 goals
2 assists

“He’s on a mission. Good for him. We need it,” Cassidy said. “He’s a scorer, right? You need those guys to win hockey games for you. He’s done it the last few nights, clearly looks energized and ready to play. And we’re thankful for it and grateful.”

The Bruins came out flying Wednesday night, completely dominating the game’s first 20 minutes. Pastrnak gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead 12 seconds into the contest.

With Flyers goalie Carter Hart keeping the Bruins lead at one, the Flyers went on to tilt things back in their favor, scoring the game’s next three goals.

From there it was Pastrnak again, Pastrnak again and Pastrnak again, this time setting up Patrice Bergeron for the overtime winner.

“We obviously can’t do that forever,” Pastrnak said of the Bruins ability to erase third period deficits. “But we’ve done it the last couple of games and it feels good. We believe in the room and we know if we play the full 60 minutes we can make things happen and turn things around.”

Pastrnak’s two third period goals including the tying goal at the 19:45 mark sent the Bruins to overtime. With Scott Laughton in the box for interference, the Bruins began the extra session on the man advantage.

Putting a heavy focus into stopping Pastrnak from firing off his lethal shot on the power play, the Flyers left Bergeron wide open on the doorstop. After his initial tip of a Pastrnak pass was stopped, he collected his own rebound, chipping it past Hart to give the Bruins the extra point.

“I saw the D was really close to us,” Pastrnak said. “Four-on-three, it’s a pretty hard play.
Usually, the three killers are playing really high. It was a split-time decision. I just saw the D really close to me. So I didn’t want to risk another blocked shot.”

Of players with 60 minutes or more of time on ice this season, Pastrnak’s 4.84 goals/60 leads the NHL in all-situation goals.

Next behind him is Patric Hornqvist with 3.32.

Since Pastrnak’s return, he’s slid right into his normal spot on the Bruins top line to the right of Bergeron and Brad Marchand. To no surprise, the trio has not missed a beat.

In the 34:48 of five-on-five they played together, the Bruins hold the edge in:

Shot attempts: 53-21
Shots on goal: 30-10
Scoring chances: 19-11
High-danger scoring chances: 19-11
Goals: 4-2

“If you watch them, I’m sure a lot of people in the league would think they’re a line rush, goal-scoring sort of trio. And certainly they can make plays. But they are a forechecking, puck recovery, make plays off the original shot, put other teams under duress,” said Cassidy.

“So they do it a lot of different ways. And that’s a credit to them. They all have good sticks. They all have good second-effort habits, good reloading habits. And again, the power play when they have time and space, they just read off each other very well. It’s nice to watch when they’re on.”

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